Mountaineer Food Bank Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

W.Va. Farmer-Food Bank Flap Focuses On Lack Of Contract

Both of West Virginia’s major food banks purchase fresh produce from West Virginia farmers. But a farmer-food bank flap had some social media pages heated up recently and demonstrated the value of a written contract.

Both of West Virginia’s major food banks purchase fresh produce from West Virginia farmers. But a farmer-food bank flap had some social media pages heated up recently, and demonstrated the value of a written contract.

Monroe County’s Sunset Berry Farm is a family-run operation that, until this year, had not made any large volume sales. Farm Manager Jennifer Gilkerson said they are working to expand their produce products.

“We specialize in strawberries,” Gilkerson said. “But we can grow other vegetables. We sort of switch up what we grow each year. We have 95 peach trees, so we’re trying to develop a nice peach program at our farm.”

Gilkerson said earlier this year she got a call from a case manager at the Mountaineer Food Bank (MFB), a regional food distributor with headquarters in Gassaway. Gilkerson said the case manager asked if Sunset Berry Farm could supply food to be purchased with a federal grant coming in.

“She said that if they got the grant, they would be buying as much as we could possibly grow,” Gilkeson said. “And then she bought strawberries from us for the entire strawberry season, which is about six weeks.”

However, Gilkerson said in transitioning from strawberry to vegetable season, Mountaineer Food Bank’s “buy all you can grow” statement turned into “no more buying from you.”

“They expelled us from the program,” Gilkerson said. “Didn’t tell us why, did not give us a chance to problem solve and didn’t tell us what the problems were and didn’t let us fix any problems. Just, you’re done. We had $14,000 worth of vegetables in our cooler that were supposed to be delivered the next day.”

Gilkerson said the farm made a healthy investment in equipment and workers, anticipating the food bank’s continued produce purchases. But there was one big thing the farm did not do. Gilkeson was frank about not having a contract with MFB.

“You know what? Because I’m stupid,” Gilkerson said. “Erica (the case manager), in an email, said no food would be turned away, that they had $3.3 million that they had to spend within three years and we trusted the Mountaineer Food Bank.”

Mountaineer Food Bank CEO Chad Morrison responded to WVPB’s questions on the issue with an emailed statement. Morrison said the food bank has not entered into written or verbal contracts with vendors to guarantee the purchase of produce, but has successfully collaborated with hundreds, if not thousands, of food suppliers, including many farmers. Morrison said in the email that MFB has complied with the applicable grant guidelines for all purchases. He did not address why the relationship with Sunset Berry Farm ended.

Across the state, Cindi Kirkhart, CEO of the Facing Hunger Food Bank out of Huntington, saw a Facebook post from Jennifer Gilkerson on the issue. Kirkhart said fresh berries and numerous other products are a challenge for food banks to buy at such volume. So, she contacted Sunset Berry farm.

“I did reach out and advise them that certainly we would be interested in purchasing the product,” Kirkhart said. “I think they have 50,000 strawberry plants and if each plant yields a pound, that’s 50,000 pounds of strawberries. In the southern coalfields where we are, we have not been able to provide that kind of volume.”

Kirkhart also said her food bank does not have formal contracts with the farmers they are purchasing from right now.

“But we do have specified inventory items that we lean on pretty heavily,” Kirkhart said. “I’m certainly glad to engage with folks so that they can do budget planning and those types of things.”

Facing Hunger Food Bank and Sunset Berry Farm plan to meet and see if they can work out a produce purchasing agreement with a contract – or maybe not.

VA And Mountaineer Food Bank Host Monthly Food Drive For Veterans And Active-Duty Military

A free monthly food drive for veterans and active-duty military will be on Nov. 3 at 200 Stadium Road in Beckley beginning at 8 a.m. Usually the distribution is the second Friday of the month, however due to the federal holiday, Veterans Day, the distribution will be the first Friday.

The program was designed to help alleviate food insecurity for veterans. Sara Yoke spokesperson for the Beckley VA Medical Center says that the rise in living cost have especially affected veterans who oftentimes live on a fixed income.

“I think with Veterans Day approaching, one of the most important ways we can honor our nation’s veterans is ensuring that they have access to the nutrition they need to thrive and stay healthy. That’s the least we can do,” Yoke said.

The program is a product of the partnership between the VA and the Mountaineer Food Bank. She says that each month the food bank in Beckley distributes around 600 boxes. However, she says that typically they don’t have enough food boxes for everyone.

“Unfortunately, there’s still a growing demand as people struggle with the economy and we have an aging veteran population that we serve. Those two things coincide,” Yoke said. “We have to ensure that we help out the Mountaineer Food Bank, you know, continuously help grow their donation network.”

She said statewide the need is even greater. Between January and September of 2023, the program has distributed 12,000 food boxes. The boxes are packed with pantry staples and fresh produce.

Check in begins at 8 a.m. and the distribution is held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. There are no income parameters for receiving a food box.

$10 Million In Reserves For W.Va. Food Banks Now Activated

The Posey Perry Emergency Food Fund is named for Gov. Jim Justice’s uncle, who volunteered to help feed the hungry for much of his life.

In his Thursday media briefing, Justice announced that the reserved $10 million, allocated from the current state budget, was now heading to the Mountaineer and Facing Hunger food banks.

“The food pantries will coordinate with the food banks, and we’ll get this money to them and hopefully be able to help a lot of folks,” Justice said.

Both food bank directors say this funding release will offer community partners needed resources to purchase food during a critical time of the year.

“The commitment to fighting hunger in West Virginia exhibited by the governor’s office is truly commendable,” Chad Morrison, CEO of Mountaineer Food Bank, said. “We eagerly anticipate the positive impact the Posey Perry Emergency Food Fund will have on those struggling with hunger in our state.”

Cyndi Kirkhart, executive director of Facing Hunger Foodbank, echoed the appreciation and the need.

“We understand that the work will continue and that we will always support the governor’s wishes for us to move toward living outside of poverty and diminished resources by pursuing food access infrastructure resources for ourselves, our community partners and our neighbors who live across our service areas, but remain at the center of our work,” Kirkhart said.

Pantries associated with both the Mountaineer Food Bank and Facing Hunger Foodbank networks are encouraged to seek funding by contacting these organizations directly.

Federal Government Shutdown Will Affect W.Va. Families, Seniors

The looming federal government shutdown will have a major effect on some of West Virginia’s most vulnerable: the very young and the elderly, when it comes to putting healthy food on the table.

The looming federal government shutdown will have a major effect on some of West Virginia’s most vulnerable, the very young and the elderly, when it comes to putting healthy food on the table.

The state’s two major food banks, Facing Hunger in Huntington and the Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway, help more than a quarter million people in need.

Facing Hunger Food Bank CEO Cyndi Kirkhart said a shutdown would immediately stop checks and meals going to tens of thousands in the WIC, or Women Infants and Children and Meals on Wheels for seniors programs.

“There’s about 37,300 individuals in our region’s WIC program,” Kirkhart said. “Out of that number, 7,592 are women. There are 21,313 children. And then the infant’s number is 8,387. With a shutdown, the benefits will stop with immediacy.”

She said WIC families losing about $200 a month will not have the specific purchasing ability for earmarked nutritional food resources.

“All those important foods, like milk, juice, cereal, those things that families rely on to have healthy children, suddenly become out of reach,” Kirkhart said.

Kirkhart said most of the seniors getting Meals on Wheels lack mobility.

We have about 57,000 seniors that qualify for federally-funded programs,” Kirkhart said. “Many rely on Meals on Wheels to bring meals into their homes. What meals they don’t get from the Meals on Wheels program, they’re going to turn to the food banks, and other charitable food programs to supplant those missing meals.”

Kirkhart said depleted West Virginia Food Bank inventories still have not recovered from the pandemic, from inflation, from cutbacks and other societal variables.

“Everyone is feeling the pain of high inflation and high fuel prices so charitable giving starts to drop,” she said. “We pay more for the food that we purchase. We can’t buy as much as we have historically. And we’re trying to expand programming to do home deliveries to the seniors at a very critical time. So, it’s quite a perfect storm.”

Kirkhart said the Facing Hunger Food Bank has strategically planned for purchases to help those who may be in immediate need.

“We have things lined up to make additional purchases of those very food products that focus on WIC and our seniors enjoy,” she said.

Kirkhart said people with questions on food availability can contact the Facing Hunger Food Bank at 304-523-6029. Or contact the Mountaineer Food Bank at 304-364-5518.

Combating Hunger in Mercer County

In Mercer County, nearly 175 food-insecure families get free, nutritious meal deliveries via DoorDash to combat rural child hunger in the Mountain State.

Families in one of West Virginia’s most food-insecure counties will receive free groceries delivered to their door this summer. Food Insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.

In Mercer County, nearly 175 food-insecure families get free, nutritious meal deliveries via DoorDash – working in partnership with Mountaineer Food Bank, Save the Children and Mercer County Schools. The mission is to combat rural child hunger in the Mountain State.

The Mountaineer Food Bank received $100,000 in Innovation Lab funding earlier this year.

Gabriela Schoolcraft, the communications coordinator for Mountaineer Food Bank, said that money helped start their Extra Mile Program

“This program allows us to increase access to food for families who are facing transportation barriers within Mercer County,” Schoolcraft said. “Mercer County was selected to pilot the program because they have one of the highest food insecurity rates in the state of West Virginia.”

The summer meals project was started by Save the Children’s Rural Child Hunger Research and Innovation Lab. Cathryn Miller is Save the Children’s West Virginia State Director.

“With the Rural Child Hunger Research and Innovation Lab, we launched open invitations for partners here in West Virginia and across many other states as well to apply their innovative ideas for how they can help target food insecurity,” Miller said.

Project Dash is DoorDash’s initiative to empower food banks, food pantries, and other social impact organizations to leverage DoorDash logistics to increase access in their communities. Daniel Riff is a senior manager with DoorDash Drive.

“What that looks like is a partner like Mountaineer Food Bank, leveraging our platform in a similar way to a restaurant, a grocer, a retailer,” Riff said. “But instead of having those types of deliveries, our network of Dashers will come to pick up from the food bank or a food bank truck and distribute directly to clients of the food bank.”

Mercer County Schools’ Integrative Collaborative Assistance Resources Education (ICARE) team has worked to identify and enroll the student families in need who are now participating in the project.

“In many rural communities, such as Mercer County, there’s limited access to stores with fresh food,” Miller said. “And it makes it very difficult for these rural families to give their children the nutritious meals that they need to grow and develop.”

The deliveries have been underway for over a month and are planned to double to families this summer. The effort is meant to ensure kids and families can continue to have consistent, nourishing meals after area schools close.

“It’s critical for brain development in children to have the proper nutritious food so that they can fully reach their potential,” Miller said. “And it’s especially important in the summer because schools are often the lifeline for children. Families rely on the school to provide breakfast and lunch, and if the children are lucky, some schools offer snacks and even dinner at the end of the day. And it’s just critical. And so when school’s out for summer, I know it’s often a worrying concern for not just families, but the children themselves.”

Riff said one of the great things about the program is its convenience.

“So Food Bank trucks go around to a few different spots in Mercer County. And from there DoorDash drivers, -, go to those spots, pick up several orders of groceries at a time, and deliver those in a string of deliveries to the residences of people that are participating in the program,” Riff said. “It is convenient for anyone to receive food this way. And it also is a great opportunity for local Dashers in the area, to have earning opportunities by delivering for this program as well.”

Schoolcraft said the COVID-19 pandemic brought the issue of food insecurity to the light nationally, but especially in West Virginia.

“With the emergency allotments ending, that really hurts families who are struggling with food insecurity,” Schoolcraft said. “We hear in lines at our distributions and through our partner food pantries how much families are struggling to afford groceries right now and other basic living expenses because of inflation. So, families are really struggling, especially with those allotments ending.”

According to Schoolcraft one in five children are facing food insecurity currently in West Virginia.

“With the Extra Mile program, we’re really grateful that we could reach more children and reach more families because we know the need is so high right now,” she said.

In each bi-monthly delivery, families receive protein, produce, and dairy with a mix of shelf-stable items.

“One of the cool things about this program is that they’re neighbors centered,” Schoolcraft said. “So if a family doesn’t have access to an oven or stove, they’re provided with meals that they can cook at home based on their needs.”

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.

Advocates Bring Hunger Issues To W.Va. Legislature As Senate Committee Advances Summer Feeding Program

According to food bank network Feeding America, one in eight people in West Virginia face hunger every day. Advocates brought the issue to the Capitol Thursday during the legislature’s Hunger Free Day.

According to food bank network Feeding America, one in eight people in West Virginia face hunger every day. Advocates brought the issue to the Capitol Thursday during the West Virginia Legislature’s Hunger Free Day.

The Facing Hunger Foodbank estimates it serves 130,000 West Virginians each year. Mountaineer Food Bank estimates more than 200,000 West Virginians struggle with food insecurity every day.

With the rising cost of food only worsening hunger in the state, both organizations came to the legislature Thursday to advocate for solutions.

“This day is really about our hungry neighbors,” said Chad Morrison, chief executive officer of Mountaineer Food Bank. “Folks out there are struggling, and the need for food is at an all time high. We want to be here at the Capitol to make sure that our legislators know that need’s out there, that it’s consistent. We’re seeing record numbers of people… and right now it’s a real struggle for us to meet all those needs.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported food costs increased more than 10 percent in 2022. Morrison said the legislature can help by increasing the resources available to food banks and pantries, and facilitate connections to local producers to reduce cost and keep spending in the community.

“There’s just a lot of different opportunities for them to get engaged and we’re hopeful,” he said. “We’re hopeful that this year there is another work group around hunger as there was last session, and that’s going to spur some more discussions about food insecurity in the state.”

Liv Brunello is part of the Voices of Hunger group from the Food for All Coalition.

“I think it’s a really aspirational title, you know, like, we want West Virginia to be Hunger Free,” she said. “But at the same time, it’s a patchwork effort. It’s volunteers and senior citizens and people from all different parts of the community coming together to try to figure it out. We believe in a future where food is recognized as a human right by our state. Where people really are hunger-free, where we don’t need to patchwork everything together. Where everyone has nutritious, affordable access to the food that they and their family want to eat.”

Brunello said she wants to see the legislature and the state as a whole take more aggressive action, such as passing an amendment to the state constitution declaring food a human right.

For now, the legislature is sticking to more immediate action.

Earlier in the day, the Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill 306, which would establish the Summer Feeding for All Program.

Committee Chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, is the bill’s co-sponsor. She said the bill will hopefully help counties and schools better identify hungry students and how best to help them.

“The Summer Feeding Program isn’t really a program where the counties go out and feeds students, most counties already do that,” Grady said. “What it does is it provides an assessment tool where counties can look and say, ‘Do we have food insecurity in certain areas? Do we have organizations, churches, community places that are offering to help with this? And if we don’t, who can we look to, to make sure we’re helping, or can we use our resources to make sure these kids are fed?’”

Grady said it can be hard for people not involved in the school system to see just how big the issue of hunger is for West Virginia’s students. As a teacher, she knows that when students are hungry, they have a harder time learning.

“We’re focusing a whole lot on improving student success in our schools,” Grady said. “We need to be climbing up, we need to bring our students up and we have to understand if their basic needs aren’t met, which is hunger, food insecurity, they’re not going to be able to learn. Addressing that is taking care of the whole child and giving them the opportunities they need to make sure they are successful.”